Derrick



Jan. 17, 1926. 1,656,861

A. ,1. LEONARD DERRICK Filed Sept. 15, 1923 2 Sheets-$heet 1 anvm'fo'c c luon Lea Patented Jan. 1 '7, 192 33.

Ll S'l i ifl .9;

J. Lnonann, err HILL, karts Party, or new 520....3, n. 1

assrsnor. 'ro IJOHEE'FJY nnsnancn 001v:- n eonrcnnrron or nn'rawann.

DERRICK.

hppIicatimrfiled September 15, 19.:

; more, the new methods of drilling have necessitated the use of higher and stronger derricks. y y

The primary objectof. the present invention is to provide a derrick construction by wvhich a derrick may be 'maintained suffi ciently rigid for all purposes and which. may be readily disassembled, transported and reassembled for use in another place.

A further object of the inventionis to provide a derrick construction by which unit parts of a derrick may be built in a factory to insure good construction and to assist in the rapid assembly of aderrick.

Other objects and features of the invention consist in the particular arrangement and combination otparts hereinafter described and claimed The variousfeatures of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a top plan vi cording to my invention;

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the upper portion of the derrick appearing in 1;

Fig. 3 is an elevation'o'f the lower portion ct th derrick appearing in Figs. 1 and 2 taken looking in the same direction in Fig. 2;

Fig.4 is an elevation of the lower portion of the derrick taken at right angles to Fig". 3:,

Fig.5 is a of 2lookinp in the direction or" the arrowsf and pumping oil .ew of a derrick acdetail taken on theliiie F-5.

. Serial No. 662,801.

This invention relates to derricks oi: the typewhic-h are commonly used for drilling oil wells.

Most of the different forms of derrick construction particularly wooden derricks, are: such that when the derrick has been used for drilling a well there are few parts of it which can be again used for building a new derrick. The construction has been such that the derrick soon becomesloose in the :lOlIltS so that companies have been required to periodically repair the derricks, tighten all joints and splices in orderto keep them rigid for reliable operation. This practice is especially necessary in the parts of this country where high winds prevail and at these places it is often very necessary to anchor the derrick with an extensive system of guy wires, Furtherin one of the legs or longitudinals of the derrick illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3;

Fig. 7 is a detail view partly in section illustrating the method of attaching the ladder to the derrick in accordance with the invention Fig. 8 is aplan view of a horizontal strut or girt used in the derrick illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3;

Fig, 9 is an end elevation of the strut shown in Fig. 8;

Figs. 10 and opposite directions of one ofthe outside an gle plates appearing in Figs. 2 and 3;

Figs. 12 and 13 are elevations taken in opposite directions of one of the inside angle: plates used in building derricks, according to the invention and illustrated in positionin use in Fig. 6.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the preferred form of derrick comprises a plurality of longitudinals or legs 14-14 placed at the corners of the structure. The legs 14 are made of solid t'mbers framed in relatively short sections, the joints between adjacent 11 are elevations taken in sections being covered and reinforced by out strengthened by horizontal struts or girts 22. 22 o't which there is one between each two ad acent le q's tions of the legs l i. Each of-the girts 22 comprises a strip 23 fastened to the angle plates 16 at each end by means of U-bolts 24. The U-bolts 24 are long enough to completely embrace the width of the elements 23 and passthroucrh holes in the outside angle plates 16 at the edges of the strips 23. Girts 23 comprise also longitudinal stiffen 1 ribs 26, 26, bolted to strips or elements 23. 7 The planes of the ribs 26 lie substantialhr at right angles to theplanes of the elements 23 and the grir-ts rest'at both ends against theinner angle plates covering the joints inthe legs 14. The ribs26 are cut away as illiistrated at 27 (Fig. 8) to permit the ll-bclts 24 to he slipped into place. The .QjlllTS 22 areplaced under compression by at each joint between the seep lan . braces Will contact with one another.

parts 34; are slotted as indicated at 36 so thatv the outside angle plates 16to the angle plates of the joint in the lens next above or below the joint under consideration. The ties 28 are connectedto outside angle plates 16 by a keyhole joint. These joints comprise elongated slots 30, '30 out through the outside angle plates 16 near the corners and extending diagonally. The slots 30 are enlarged at their ends nearest the corner of plates 16, illustrated at 31 in Fig. 6. The ties 28 are bent at right angles to their length at their ends and have their ends enlarged as illustratedat- 29, Figs. 5 and6. Therefore when theenlargedends 29 of the ties 28 have been slipped through the enlargements 31 of tlic slots30 the smaller portion of the bent ends of the rods 28 may bel readily slipped down into the narrow portions of the slots30. The ties 28 being, new placed under tension,. the

ties 28 are securely connected" to theplates 16 at each end so long as the ties remain under tension, but it is evident that the. tics may be readily disconnected from the plates Whenever the tension is released. It is evident that the form of connection just described utilizingslbts 30 of keyhole form in plates 16 dispenses with all loose parts such as Washers, nuts, and the like. The ties 28 are conveniently placed under tension after being placed in plates 16, as just describerh by turnbuckles 32. The turnbuckles 32 are preferably located in the centers of the ties 28 sothat flattened portions 34: in the mid parts of the turnbuckles 32 of two crossing The when the parts are assembled and under tension andlbrought into contact as illustrated in Fig"; 5 bolts 88, 38 are pass edi through the slots two fastened securely together. It is evident from the foregoing as applied to the drawing, that when the ties 28 are placed under tension by the turnbuckles 32. the girts 22 are thereby placed under compression and the structure of the girts 22 with the manner of assembling the same as previously described, permits very considerable pressure to be placed on the girts thereby making: the entire structure very rigid Whenin use. Further Whenthe tie braces are locked bythe bolts 38 they cannot Work loose.

The major portionof the der 'iclt accord,- mg to my invention is made by assembly at the parts previously described, but the-top and bottom ends ofthe-derrick according to my invention are somewhat differently constructed. It is advantageous to make the top portion stronger than necessary forthe intermediate portions" and at the extreme upper ends ofthe legs 1471 provide special outer angle plates "39, lower corners to ties 28 running to first joint'belo w the top. The plates 39 are provide connections for the 36 in adjacentturnbuckles 32 and the 39 having slots 30 in their-- theangle plates 16 at the also drilled to receive bolts 20 connecting them to the upper ends of the lens 14:. Plates 39 are vertically longer than plates 16 and extend up above the upper ends of the legs 1 1 into engagement with heavy crown timbers 40, 40. The edges of the timbers 4E0 rest on the upper ends of the legs 14. and the ends of the timbers 40 are framed together at 41 and form a square frame all as illustrated in Fig. 1. Tllimbcrs 40 are firmly connected ton ctlm' and to the platos38 by a plurality of auxiliary braces 44, el l on each face of the derrick each pair oat braces ll; being; beveled at their upper ends as illustrated at (Fug. 2) and securely bolted to one of the timbers alt) by bolts as, 46. From the timbers it) each pair of braces ll-extends downivardlya distance equal to two sections of the legs or corner posts 14: and are secured to the two girts 22 across which they eirtcnd by bolts 48, 48. Preferably, as illustrated in Fig. 2 the angle between! each jpair of auxiliary legs 44: is somewhat greater than that be tween two corner legs 14 so that the lower ends otthe braces 4% are secured to the second girt from the top of the derrick closely adjacent to theanglc plate 16 connected to this particular girt. I find tlut this arrangenient materially increases the stillness ot'. the upper portions of the derrick.

Referring now more particuhu'ly to Figs. 3 and 11-, theporlion oi the dcrriclt according'. to my invention which is; next lhc ground or foundation is made dill'ercntly from the intern'iediate portions ol the dorrick in order that the ties and braces shall not interfere Withthe drilling: operations or other matters with which the worlnncnare engaged. For this reason, the lowcrscctions 15. 15 of the lens 14- are made longer than those above, and securely counectcd to gether at their lower ends by horizoni: l tinrbers 52, so placed. near the tops and hob toms of the sections 1:: as to interfere"as little as possible with the work to be done. Two adjacent ones of the lower looser-lions 15 moreover are particularljy selected an the starting and, wind-resistinglegs and are braced in :two directions in the planes of legs 14:, let by struts 54:, at (Figs. 3 and t). The struts at are connected to their corresponding legs-sections 15 at the bottom by pieces 56 and members 54 and 15 are further connected by horizontalbraccs 58 and diagona'l braces 60. Braces 58 are arranged ill horizontally near the mid portions of members 15 and 54 and are formed of timbers fitted in between the said members and sc curely connected thereto by bolts 62 extending entirely through the length of the members 58 and through the sides of the members 15 and 54:. The diagonal braces 60 are below the braces 58 and braces 60 are also made of timbers fitted carefully between the members 15 and 58 but are secured thereto by bolts 64, 6% passing through the respective members at the ends of braces 60. \Vherever it is necessary to run moving members through the sides of the derrick, such members for instance, as walking beams or ropes subject to vertical oscillation a special construction is necessary. One such specially constructed portion is illustrated in Fig. 3 and comprises in addition to the usual sections of the legs 1d and the girts 22, a pair of parallel spaced struts 66, 66, one on each side of the line connecting the centers of two adjacent girts 22. The struts 66 connect at each end with special plates 68, 68 fastened to the girls 22 and the plates 68 are firmly connected by pairs of short diagonal ties or braces 70, 70 to the outside .angle plates 16 at the ends of the girts to which the struts are connected.

It is necessary for the use or" a derrick to have a ladder associated with the same, and according to my invention, 1 provide a ladder which can be placed in position on the derrick and removedtherefrom with a minimum of trouble, when desired, but which is firmly and securely connected to the derrick when in use.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 1, 2, t and 7, 72 is a ladder formed in sections, the ends of adjacent sections abutting the joints between adjacent sections being arranged to tall on one of the horizontal struts or girts 2-2 of the derrick structure.

he lower ends otthe sections of ladder 72 have secured thereto pins 74 fastened on the inside faces of the ladder sections and bent awa from members 7 6 so that the free ends of t e pins lie parallel to the longitudinal members 76 ot the ladder leaving space enough between the free ends of the pins 7% and the members 76 to receive the outer element 23 of the girts 22. Preferably also the ribs 26 out girts 22 are apertured as illustrated at 78 in Fig. 7 to receive the free ends of pins 74, these being long enough to pass not only through apertures 7 8, but also through, apertures in the outwardly bent ends. of straps fastened to the next lower ladder section, and the ladder sections are thus securely hooked to the girts 22. Adjacent lad der sections moreover may be firmly hooked together by hooks 80 carried on the outside of the longitudinals 7 6 and engaging eyes 82 on the adjacent sections.

The derrick construction illustrated and described above permits the building of a number of units in the factory which permits the parts to be inspected and carefully built and allows the units to be used for a rapid assembling of a derrick. For example, the posts 14 with plates 16 bolted totheir ends are assembled in the factory( All of the units 22 are assembled in the factory. The crown timbers for the top of the derrick are assembled in the factory. The ladders are assembled in the factory. The brace sections 15 are assembled in the factory and, in fact, the entire derrick is framed and parts arranged and distinguished so that it is a mere matter of bolting them together when the derrick is assembled. This has a great advantage because it allows the perfeet construction to be maintained notwithstanding that in many cases derricks are constructed in isolated places where it is not possible to have good working conditions and to secure the services of the highest grade mechanics.

It is evident that all the parts forming a derrick above described may be readily connected and disconnected when desired. Also all connections are madeexclusively by bolts so that no part is damaged in disconnecting. The same parts can therefore be used again and again as there is need for using a given derrick in different places. A part, however, which has been accidentally damaged, either in use or in transportation may be readily replaced without lessening the utility of the remaining parts.

Derricks constructed as above described have shown high rigidity and strength both as regards the stresses produced by drilling or like operations and those caused by high winds.

Havingthus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In aderrick having upright corner posts, the combination of angle irons secured to the posts, girts secured to the angle irons, turnbuckle tie rods secured to diagonally opposite angle irons, the turn-buckles on adja-. cent tie rods being arranged side by side in contacting relation whereby they normally mutually oppose relative turning.

2. In a derrick having upright corner posts, the combination of angle irons secured to the posts, girts secured to the angle irons, tie rods secured to diagonally opposite angle irons, length-adjusting means on the tie rods, said means on one tie rod normally abutting the similar means on an adjacent tie rod whereby relative turning of said means is mutually opposed by reason of their abutting relationship.

3. In a derrick having upright corner posts, the combination of angle irons secured to the posts, girts secured to the angle irons, tie rods secured to diagonally opposite lea irons, turn-buckle tie rods secured to diagw nally opposite angle irons, the turn-bueklcs having openings extending transversely theret hrough, the turn-Irmckles on adjacent tie rods being arranged side by side, and securin means )assin throu 'h the (nenin s #7 b h b in adjacent turn buckles.

In testimony "whereof I aflix my s1 gnature,

ARTHUR J. LEONARD. 

